Anna dormitzer



(No Model.)

A. DORMITZER. ORNAMENTAL STEP LADDER.

No. 488,999. Patented Jan. 8, 1898l W/TNESSES: l

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UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

ANNA DORMITZER, OF NEW YORK, N. Yf

ORNAMENTAL STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 488,990, dated January 3, 1893. Applicationled July 22, 1892. Serial No. 440,893- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANNA DORMITZER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in 0rnamental Step-Ladders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My present invention relates to an improvement in ornamental step-ladders, which is an improvement on Letters Patent granted me and numbered respectively 336,219; 361,212; 421,914, and 449,846, and consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims, reference beinghad totheaccompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3 of my improved ladder when open; Fig. 2 is a like View of my ladder when closed; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a detailed-front view showing the mechanism for holding the sections distended Fig. 5 is a detailed section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing a match-box.

The object of my present invention is to produce an ornamental step-ladder which when not in use as a ladder may be used as an ornamental panel or lire-screen and also to provide means for supporting the steps of said ladder and for holding the sections apart when the ladder is in use, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawing, and where- 1n A represents the rear section of the frame of the ladder, consisting mainly of two parallel side-bars a a connected together by two or more cross-bars such as a2, a3 and a4. To the back of this section is attached an ornamental design C, which maybe produced upon any suitable material, and the design may be made by painting, embroidering or in any Well-known manner.

B represents the front or step-carrying section of my ladder, which is constructed similar to the rear section, with the parallel sides b', b2 and cross-bars b3, h4 and b5, and is pivoted at the upper end thereof to the rear or ornamented section A, so that when the ladder is closed, the rear section fits within the front one, as shown.

0n both ends of each of the steps D are attached metal end pieces c, provided with pivots d near the rear edge thereof, which pivots operate in the bearings formed on the inner faces of the two parallel sides b', b2 of the front section. On the rear edge of preferably the top step is secured asubstantially T-shaped lug d2 which slides in the slot c of the plate c, the short ends of said lug d2 engaging on the under side of the plate c carried on the ornamented section A and so located that when the upper step is in an eX- actly horizontal position, the lug will reach the upper end of the slot c', which will thus form a support for the step. These steps are connected by means of the side connecting rods e, which causes all of the steps to open and close synchronously, and which also forms a support for the intermediate steps.

It will be observed that the lug and slot arrangement above referred to answers the double purpose of supporting the steps and keeping the two sections from coming together when the ladder is in use, it being necessary to push one of the steps up in order to close the ladder. When, however, this is done the two sections are brought together, the steps closed and the whole fastened together in its closed position by the spring-catch g and the pin g, or by any well-known fastening device.

On the under side of the lower step is a pivoted supporting rod f which slides through the staple f located on the lower cross-bar 195, the lower end of which supporting rod contacts with the oor when the steps are in an exactly horizontal position, thus rendering an additional support for the steps independent of the framework of the ladder and supported by direct contact with the floor.

h designates a hand-hold or support attached to one side of the ladder and adapted to slide in the sleeve h', and when not in use can be pushed down out of the way along the side of the ladder.

1I represents a match-box formed in the upper cross-bar t3 of the ladder, which feature,

5 desirous of using it as an however, forms no part of my present invention. To this cross-bar is also attached the hinged hanging loop j by which the ladder may be hung when not in use and when it is ornamental panel. Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. The combination of the frame-sections A B, steps D and lug (Z2 carried on one of said xo V'steps and workingin slots c', substantially as described.

2. The combinationY of the frame-sections AB, steps D, united .by connecting-rods e, and means Yfor supporting one of said steps inde- 15fpendent of said frame-sections and of said connecting rods e, substantially as described.

3. An ornamental step-ladder consisting of the frame-sections A B, steps D, the lower of said steps carrying the supporting-rod f adapted to slide in staple f', substantially as described. i 4. The combination of the frame-sections A B, the steps D, lug d2, slotted plate c and means for supporting said steps independent of the frame-sections, substantially as described. Y

5. An ornamental step-ladder consisting of the frame-sections A B, steps D, oneof which stepsrcarries the T-shaped lug d2, the short projections of which.V are adapted to engage the under side of the plate c, and supporting rod f attached to the lowermostof steps D for supporting said steps independent of the frame-sections, substantially as described. ANNA DORMITZER. Witnesses:

ELEANOR EssRoGnR, F. B. OSGOOD. 

